Music-roll-controlling mechanism



W. G. BETZ.

muslo ROLL CONTROLUNG MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7| I9I7- Patented June 22, 1920.

W. G. BETZ.

MUSIC ROLL CONTROLLINGy MECHANISM.

APPLlATloN FILED FEB.7.1917.

1,344,574. Patented June 22, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. G. BETZ.

MUSIC ROLL CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 7. 1917.

Patented June 22, 1920.

UNITED STATES" WILLIAM G. BETZ, OF BUFFALO, NE'W YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 STRAUBE PIANO COMPANY 0F HAMMOND, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

MUSIC-ROLL-CON'ROLLING MECHANISM.

Latimer-i.

Application filed February 7, 1917. Serial No. 147,136.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. Birra, al

citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Music-Boll-Gontrolling Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to pneumatic musical instruments, and has to do more particularly with music-roll controlling nicchanism.

@ne of the new features of my invention is the improved mechanism for alining the music-roll and the tracker-bar; that is, an improved method of lining up the musicroll with the tracker-bar so that the perforations in the music-roll will register with the ports in the tracker-bar. There are various other features in my invention, but these will be. more particularly pointed out in the ensuing specification and claims.

Various means have been suggested for effecting a registration of the music-roll perforations and the tracker-banports. In my improvedmechanism for doing this I preferably adjust an inner face of a head of the music-spool in definite relation to the ports of the tracker bar. I find that in the Inanufacture of music-spools there is a slight variation in dimensions, but that the musicsheets are practically of the same width and line up against the inner surface of the fixed head of the music-spool. I provide an alinenient device which adjusts tliemusicspool so that the inner face of the fixed head of the spool is in definite relation tothe ports in the tracker-bar. The one edge of the music-roll, of course, engages the inner face of this fixed head of the music-spool. The perforations of the music-roll being always cut in a certain. relation to the edge of the music-roll, it will be apparent that, if the corresponding inner edge of the spoolhead is in definite relation to the trackerar ports, then the perforationsin the musicsheet must register with the tracker-bar ports.

For a betterunderstanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in whichy Figure 1 is a 4front View of the preferred forni of music-roll controlling-mechanism of my invention;

Itig. 2` is a rear elevation of the same;

I* igs. and 4l are left and right end views respectively, of the mechanism of Fig. l;

l* ig. 5 is a partial sectional view through the pneuinatics or bellows for controlling the alinement mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, showing the alinement locking-mechanism H lLig. 7 `is a sectionalview along the line 1 of Iiig. l, showing the music-spool and stop-arm;

lig. 8 is a sectional View along the line 8-8 of Fig. 2, showing the valves for controllii'ig the stop pneumatic; Q tigri-1S 1a f ifw fling the une g. s g .e siifting-inechamsm for the upper shaft and the brake therefor; and

Fig. lO is a sectional view along the line l() of Fig. l, showing the shifting-mechanism for the lower shaft and the brake therefor.

Referring now more in general to the preferred form of my invention as illustrated in the drawings, it comprises a frame Av supporting a music-spool B, a take-up spool C, and spool-operating mechanism l). A music-spool shifting pneumatic E is also provided and is adapted when operated to laterally shift the shafts of the two musicspools toward the left, in order to line up the music-sheet and the tracker-bar.` A lecking pneumatic F is also provided and is adapted to stop the shifting operation of the pneumatic E when the music-spool has been shifted laterally far enough to line up with the tracker-bar II.

Referring now more particularly to the preferred construction of my invention as illustrated, I provide frame A comprising a base 1 preferal'ily of wood and having attached thereto metal sides 2 and 3, to 100 which are fastened a bottom back 4 and a top back 5, the hack pieces being preferably of wood. 'I'he bottom back piece 4L is preferably a flat piece, while the top back 5 is rounded out, as shown by the dotted lines 105 in Fig. 4f.

In order to accommodate the frame to different `kinds of pianos, I provide adjustable stun means which are secured to the base-board 11, as shown in Fig. l; that is, 110

ESO

vthe base 1 el the lranie.

four threaded studs 12 are secured -to the base-board 11 and project upwardly through Nuts 13 are provided for clamping` the hase l and holding: it in the proper position.

ln order to support the. music-spool l, l provide at the left end of the spool, a spring-pressed or yielding shaft member ll, the operation of which is well understood. l'or supporting the right end of the musicspool -ll a driven shalt 15 is'provided (see Figs. 1 and 9) having' a head adapted to l`t within the sockets ot 'the spool-liead. This shaft ifi-has its bearings in the 'tranni- )late 3 and the end frame-plate 1G, theshalft seing laterally movable in a manner as will iereinal'ter be more particularly described.

The take-up spool C is supported by a yielding shaft at its le'lt end and a driving` shat 1S at its right end, this shaft 18 being.

supported in bearings in the plates 3 and 16, as shown in Figs. 1 and 10. This shaft i8 is also late 1ally movable 'lor shifting the take-up spool in a manner as will'be'hereinalter more particularly described.

The spcol-operating; ineelninism l), which is more particularly illustrated in Figs. l, 2, 9 and l0, is supported by a novel 'li-aine arrangement consistiimy et the plates E and 16, which are securely held together by means of screws 1.9-20, sleeves 2l-22, and sleeves 23-24l, shown in cross section in Fig. 2. rhese sleeves-not only serve to hold the iframe together, but also act as bearings lor the vertically-disposed shafts 2li-2li, `which shafts have their ends entering,` into hearings provided in these sleeves, as shown more particularly in cross section in Fig. 2. rllhe shalt 25 carries the gear-shift and brakemechanism, while the shatt 2G carries the shifting-arms 2T-28 'lor shifting the spoolshatts 15 and 18. rl`he arms 27-LS press against the ends el" the shai'ts 15 and 18, which are pressed toward the right by the action of the spring-pressed shafts at the lett end ol the spools. Thus, as the shaft 2G is rotated toward the left or toward the right, the spool-shafts 15 and 18 are moved laterally correspondingly. The method ot operating' the shalt 2G will bemore particularly referred to later 0n.

is to the gear-shitting mechanism controlled. by the shalt it will he noted that the main driving-shaft 29 .is provided with a .lriving-gear 30, which is connected to the main motor of the musical instrument being played. This shalt 29 is supported in bearings in the plates 3 and 16 and carries a gear 31 connected ley a chain 32 to a gear 33 fixed to the music-spool sha'lit 15. Also on the main sha'ft 29 is a slida le pinion 5341-, which is moved laterally on the sha'lft 29 hy means of the arm fastened to the shitting-shaft et the bottom end et the shaft 25 is a lever 36, which is connected by a rodrl? to the usual shifting-lever at the 'liront of the piano. T he main driving-pin- Aion carries a pin 239, which is adapted to engage a pin l() farriedby the gear 3l; that is, when the main driving-pinion Pfl is shil'ted toward the right, the pins 239 and Ll() cooperate, the pin 39 thus rotating the gear 51, whereby the music-spool sha'l't l5 rotated. This is used lor rcwinding` the ni.usi ^.roll. When the main driving-gear 2:31 is shi lted toward the le'lt, it'engages a gear 4:1, which gear is lixed'to'the take-up spool -slia` lt lo. 'llhusfwhen theg'ears llaand 'l'lare in'niesh, the tahe-upspool C isrotatedto operate the music-sheet lor playing'.

Vln 'order to )revent slack Ain the musi#- `sheet durine' the playing' or rewind `operation tlie1eoli,'braiies a re ypro videi l` to opera te upon the idle one ofthe spools ll orC; that is, when'tlie'musicis being played the `take-up spool C is drawing` the sheet olf inusie toward itand the lnusic-spool'l is idle, and to prevent the'spool B from running :free and allowing'slach in the sheet-music, a bra-he is applied to a drum 42 carried by the shalt 15 (as shown in Fig. 9). lVith the shil'tinglever 36 in its rewind position, as shown in Figs. 9 vand 1U, the V.main driving-gear 3l is operating' upon the large chain-gear 3l, and at this time the leather brake-shoe lil upon the drum Ll2 is-open, because the pin l5 carried bythe shi'ltingshalt 25 is pressing' `upon Vthe spring le and maintaining;` the brake #C2-43 inoperative. However, at this time the brake upon the take-up spool C is rellective asshown in Fig. 10. This brake also consists of a leather brake-shoe 4G adapted to press upon'the hub or drum -Lii' of the gear l1. lith the shifting-lever 36 in the yright-hand or ta l e-up position, as shown in Fig. 10, the music-spool B is being driven, and there'lore rthe 'brake 16 is applied to the take-up spool C in order to prevent slack of the music-sheet. This brake 1G is carried upon the spring 141:7, which spring cooperates with the pin L18 carried by the shitting-shalt 1n the operation of the shifting and braking-mechanism, when the shitting-lever 3G is to the right, 'the music-spool B is being driven to rewind the music-sheet, at which time the driving` pins E9-Jl() on the main driving-gear Bll are in'eng'agrement and the brake i6- 47 upon the take-up spool C is effective. However, when the shifting-lever 36 is in its left-hand or playing; position, the main driving-pinion Sel andthe large gear 111 are in mesh, and the'talce-ui) spool C is being' driven. iltthis time the brake yupon the take-up spool (l is not effective, because the pin 118 (see Fig. 10) is enga@ incT the spring 117' andthe lower ln'al-:eshoe is disengaged. At this time, however, the pin upon the upper brake has moved to the right away from the spring ll and allowed the brake 42h-43 upon the upper spool to become effective.

As already referred to, due to the springpressed shafts 14 and 17 at the left end of the music-spools B and C, these spools are pressed toward the right, so that the side bearings of the shafts 15 and 18 normally engage the inner faces of the side plate 3, as

shown in Fig. 1. It will also be remembered that the ends of the shafts 15 and 18 are rounded and engage the inner faces of the shifting-plates 27--28, as shown in Figs. 1, 9 and 10. Therefore, ifthe spool-shifting shaft 26 is rotated, the plates 27-28 simultaneously press against the ends of the shafts 15 and 18 and move the spools B and C toward the left against the tension of the spring-pressed shafts 14 and 17. It will thus be apparent that, when the spools are shifted to line u the music-sheet with the ports in the trac er-bar H, both spools are moved simultaneously, resulting in a lateral shifting of the whole music-sheet and spools.

One of the reasons that the regular commercial music-sheet and the tracker-bar do not always come into proper alinement is that in the manufacture of music-spools such as are here employed, there is a variation in dimensions of the head 49. That is, there is a variation in the distance between the inner face 50 ofthe head and the stop face 51. It will be apparent that, although the shaft 15 may be permanently fixed, if this dimension just referred to varies theny the edge 52 of the music-sheet will not always come in the same relation to the trackerbar II. In the manufacture of the musicroll the perforations are made in definite relation to the edge of the sheet. In order to care for slight variations in the width of the sheet, which may be caused in manufacture or by atmospheric or other changes, the left head 53 of the music-spool is usually made laterally movable. That is, although the right head 49 is fixed to the spool core, the left head 53 has a slight lateral movement, so that it will always tend to keep the inner faces of the two heads against the edges of the sheet while the spool is held betweenthe shafts.

In order to effect a proper alinement of the music-sheet and the tracker-bar, I preferably provide alining mechanism controlled by the inner face 50 of the fixed head 49 of the spool. As already explained, the dimensions of the fixed head 49 may vary, and therefore in placing the spool in the holder the inner face 50 will not always normally come in a certain delinite relation to the tracker-bar II. Therefore, I preferably shift the spool B toward the left until the inner face 50 of the fixed head comes into definite relation to the tracker-bar, and the spool is then held in this position while the piece is being played.

`,f ages the music on the spool B.

In order to take care of the greatest varation in spool heads, I preferably construct the shaft 15 so that with the greatest thickness of spool heads (which I have-found do not vary more than 1S- of an inch) the inner face 50 of the fixed head assumes a position slightly to the right of its playing position.

The spool-shifting or alinement mechanism already referred to consists of the shifting-pneumatic E, which by its operation shifts the music into proper alinement with the tracker-bar. The stop-pneumatic F thenV operates so that the shifting-pneumatic will hold the music in its proper position. For this purpose I provide a shaft 152 (see Fig. 2) carrying a felt-capped stud u 153 at one end, which is adapted to be engaged by the arm 54 carried by the pneumatic E when said pneumatic is closed. This shaft 152 is carried in an arm 55 and passes through a V-shaped orice 56 in this arm 55, as shown in Fig. 6. The other end of the shaft 152 is pivotally connected to a lever 57 securely attached to the shaft 26. It will thus be apparent that when the pneumatic E is closing, the arm engages the stud 153 of the shaft 152 and presses it toward the left (Fig. 2). This moves the lever 57 and thus presses the plates 27-28 (see Figs. 9 and 10) against the shafts 15-18 and moves the spools B and C towardwthe left (see Fig. 1). I-Iowever, before this shifting of the spools occurs, a stop-arm 59 (Figs. 1 and 7) is rotated downwardly into operative relation with the inner face of the fixed head of the music-spool. ThisA operative position is shown by the dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 7.

The stop-arm 59 is rotatable relative to a,

shaft 60, but isnot laterally movable relative to this shaft. For this purpose the hub 62, which carries the arm 59, is slotted at 62 and embraces a pin 63 carried by the shaft. Thus, as the shaft 60 is rotated in a clockwise direction (looking at Fig. 7) the arm 59 moves downwardly until'ip enr s is understood, these music-spools come in vari- `ous sizes, according to the composition, and

in order to take care of this variation the arm 59 is'provided with this rotary play. The shaft 60 has a definite angular rotation, so that itwill be seen that if a roll larger than the one illustrated in Fig. 7 were used, the shaft 60 in rotating would allow the arm to come in contact with the music on the roll, and any further rotation of the shaft 60 would simply cause the pin 63 to move away from the end of the slot 62 and allow the arm 59 to remain lightly in engagement with the music-sheet.

The rotary operation of the shaft 60 brought about by the link connection 64, which is lpivotally connected to an arm on the shaft 60 and is also pivotally connected at its lower end G6 to an arm GT,

secured to the pneumatic E. Thus, when 'the pneumatic E is closed, the arm G7 moves downwardly, carrying' the link (5ft with it and thus rotating); the shaft GO and causing the stop-arm 59 to come into operative relation with the music-spool 13.

Thus, it will be seen that in the initial closing movement of the pneumatic E, the stop-arm 59 is first brought into operative relation with the musie-spool B, after which the rontinued closing; movement of the pneumatic E e'l'lects engagement between the arm 54; and the tip 153 oi' the shailt 1532, thus shifting the two spools, the shitting` movement continuing until the inner face 50 o'l" the spool head 49 engages this stop-arm is already referred to, 'the heads ot the' music-spools vary in dimensions and there- Yfore the shifting movement will vary, because this movement must be such as to bring the inner 'face of the spool head in proper relation to the tracker-bar. The control o'f the shitting;v movement is in the stop-pneumatic F.

In order to stop the shitting or alinement operation of the pneumatic E, a centrollingy valve J for the stop-pneumatic F is provided upon the stop-arm shaft (it). This valve is operated by a lateral movement of the shaft GO, brought about by engagement between the stop-arm 59 andthe spool head, This valve comprises a stationary hub 69 secured to the frame and acting' as a bearing` at the left end ot the shaft GO, as suown in Fig'. l. This hub G9 has a port-hole 70 extending' therethrough, as shown in Fins. l, 2 and 8, the port opening being upon the lateral fare of the hub 69, which is engaged by the collar 71. This port-hole 'i0 is connected, by means of a flexible tube 72, to a valve 85 controlling1 the step-pneumatic l?. The purpose of the stop-valve J is to connect the tube i2-and thus the valve-chamber SS-with the atmosphere. This is accomplished by :moving` the shaft 6o toward the le'llt against the tension or' the spring' 95, thus moving' the collar 71 laterally away 'from the port 7() and exposing the opening to the atmosphere. That is, when the ,suo-ol head engages the stoperm 5S) a continued lateral movement of the stop-arm and the shaft G0 causes the collar Tl to move away from the hub Gf) and thus open the porthole 70 and expose this port to the atmosphere. As soon as the valve J is opened the stop-pneumatic F operates to prevent further lateral movement of the musicspools. This will be more particularly described later.

Both pneumatics E and F are operated through a tube 73 connecting the main vacuum chamber of the piano with the local vacuum chamber' 74 in the block T5, shown in Fig. 5. This vacuum chamber 74 is connected by means ol' a du et T6 with the aline ment pneumatic l5. This chamber 'T-lf is also connected with the stop pneumatic l" by n'ieans ol a duct 7T, shown at the bottom of the block 75. The duct 7T may be connected with the vacuum chamber Til or with the atmosphere through the duct 78, according to the position of the valve-mcchanism shownwithin the block 75. This valve-meclnmism preferably comprises a sheet metal plate having s1 'ing arms T) adapted to engage a double jpointed shaft ttor supportinpr the falveerm Slt. This val 've-arm SO carries a i buli'er fil 'for co5 ieratino' with the iouch 59 which is preferably or leather and glued over the chamber 8-5, which chamber counected by means of the tupe 'T2 to the valve J already referred to. rl`he chamber C?) is also connected by lmeans ol a duct Sil with the ai.l:;ilia.ry vacuum chamber 7.11-, The .v'aivc-arm S() also carries a double leatherl'aced valve S5, which is adapted to seat against the plate 8G or the `tace 87, according; to the position of the arm 80. Thus, the duct Y? connects the stop-pneumatie l" with the vacuum chamber 7l or atmosphere, ac-- cordiug,l to the position oit the valve The opening` TS leading from the valve to the atniosphere is covered by means et a cloth screen 186 to prevent the entrance oi? dirt. So long,- as the vvalve el' .is closed, thefdeggjree of vacuum on each side oit the pouch 552-- that is, iu the chambers 853 and Tel-is the same, so that the valve remains inen- ,fgagement with the sait or plate t?, However, it' the duct '.72 is exposed to the aimes phei'e, the vacuum in the chamber' i drops, that is, there is an increase in absolute pressure in chamber S3. There is thus a dil'lerence in pressure on opposite sides oi the pouch S2, resulting;` in e movement ot the valve-lever S0 'to the right, closing the atnmspherc duct iti and connecting; the stoppneuina ic it with the chamber 74:, through the duct Ti', sultine' the operation ot' the pneumatic i. This liits the rod which is connected to a cam 5f) pivoted a Slt), caus ing,Y the operative end ol" the cam et) to more downwardly against the shaft 252, locking; it against the side ol? the V-shaped orifice 56 and thereby preventing further lateral movement oi" the shatt 152. However, when the-lecitiiig-cam E39 operates, there is ay slight retractive movement ot tl e pneumatic ll to relieve the otherwise `trictioimil engagement between the spoi'il-head and the stop-arm.

. This is broughtabout hy a sudden ii'ufrease a solute pressure, or in other words drop in the vacuum in the chamber 74, due to the, movement of the valve and the rush ot air from the pneumatic l" into the chamber 74 and the pneumatic E and also the eX- posure ot the duct 72 to the atmosphere at the valve J permitting air to enter chamber 741: through duct 811. Therefore the pneumatic E retracts sufficiently to permit a small movement of the shaft 152 toward the left, Fig. 5, which movement continues until the valveJ closes again. This valve J, it is to be understood, had opened only slightly, El.; to 3,12- of an inch, as I have found. The retractive or expanding movement of the pneumatic E until valve J is again closed is thus very slight. As soon as the valve J closes again the duct 72 is, of course, closed, so that the vacuum in the chambers 74 and 83 immediately balances and the valve seat S6 again closes, disconnecting the vacuum chamber 74 from the stop-pneumatic F.,

However, before the stop-pneumatic F has had time to release the stop-cam 89, the pneumatic E has started to close again, but its closing movement is practically m'Z, being limited by the tip 153 ofthe shaft 152, because locking-cam 89 is in a position to prevent a movement of the shaft 152 toward the right. This slight retractive movement of thev pneumatic E just referred to is sufficient to allow the music-spool B to slightly disengage from the stop-arm 59, so that there is no frictional engagement between the arm 59 and the face of the spool-head 49 during the playing operation. It will be apparent that if the stop-arm 59were permitted to ride against the side of the spool B during the playing operation, a retarding effect upon the spool B would be produced, and it is to avoid this retarding or frictional engagement between the arm 59 and the spool B that the stop-pneumatic F and associated mechanism are provided.

On account of this slight retractive movement of the music-spools, I preferably adjust the mechanism so that upon the initial closure of the shifting or alinement pneumatic E the spools B and C will carry the music-sheet 52 slightly to the left of the tracker-bar ports; that is, the music-sheet is moved to the left so that the perforations therein. are slightly to the left of the ports. The retractive movement of the spools to relieve the frictional engagement between the stop-arm 59 and the spool-head 49 then carries the music-sheet back so that the perforations and the ports are in proper alinement. A

\ Operation.

Having described in detail the operation of the various elements entering into the preferred form of my invention as shown herein, I will now describe the operation of distance varying according to the size of the spool-head 49. The music is now secured to the take-up spool C in the usual manner. The operator, by means of the usual lever at the front of the piano, now. shifts the gear-shift lever 36 to the left, thereby rotating the shaft 25 and causing the arm 35 to move the pinion 34 into mesh with the gear 41. This operation of the shaft 25 (see Figs. 9 and 10) causes the brake-shoe 43 to engage the drum 42 of the upper shaft, while the brake-shoe 46 on the lower shaft is moved free of the drum 47. The operator now starts to pedalL in the usual manner, thereby creating a vacuum` in the main vacuum chamber of the piano, causing the motor to drive the main shaft 29 of the mechanism. The shaft 29 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow on the gear 30 in Fig. 4.

As soon as the vacuum is created in the main vacuum chamber of the piano, this also produces a vacuum in the auxiliary chamber 74 in the block 75, because of the connection 73 (Fig. 6) from the chamber 74 to the main vacuum chamber. The shiftingpneumatic E is, therefore, immediately closed, and upon the initial closing movement thereof the stop-arm 59 is first brought into the path of the music-spool This is brought about by the operation of the arm 67 connected to the pneumatic E, which arm is connected by the link 64 to thestop-arm shaft G9, the operation of these parts causing a rotation of the shaft 60 and bringing the arm 59 downwardly into Athe path of the spool-head 49. The continued closing movement of the pneumatic E now causes the arm 54 carried thereby to engage the tip 153 of the shaft 152 (see Fig. 2) moving said shaft 152, which, being connected to the shiftingshaft 26, causes a rotation of this shaft, whereby the arms 27--28 carried thereby press against the ends of the shafts 1.51S, causing a lateral shift of the nmsic-spools B and C toward the left. This movement of the spools continues until the inner face of the spool-head 49 engages the stop-arm 59, whereupon a slight continuing movement of the spool B causes the arm 59 and the shaft 60 to move toward the left. This causes an operation of the valve J by a separation between the collar 71 and the hub G9. This opens said valve J and exposes the port therein to the atmosphere. The valve J is connected by means of the tube 72 to the pouch-chamber 83, thereby reducing the vacuum in the chamber v83, and, there being thus an unequal pressure upon the opposite sides of the pouch 82, the valve buffer 81 engaged thereby is moved toward the right, opening the valve seat 85-86 and closing the valve seat 85H87. The stoppneumatic F is therefore connected with the auxiliary vacuum chamber 74, and this pneumatic immediately closes, operating the stop-cam S9 and locking the shaft 152 against further movement toward the right, llig. 5, thus preventing a further closing operation ot the shifting-pneumatic E.

rit this point in the operation ot the mechanism, we have the inner iaee et the spool-head 49 pressing against the stop-arm 59, which is under tension of the spring 95 at the end of the shaft GO. It will be apparent that, if the mechanism were 'operated in this state7 the irictional engagement between the stop-arm 59 and the spool-head 41:9 would interfere with the iree operation thereof. To relieve this 'lfrictional engagement during the playing operation oi the mechanism, l permit a slight rctractive movement ot the spool B, suilicient to relieve the spool-head 49 from engagement with the stop-arm 59. This is brought about in the follmving manner: rit the time the valve l was operated to eilect operation of the stop-pnei'imatic F, there was a momentary increase iii-absolute pressure or drop in vacuum inthe auxiliary chamber 741i, due to the eposure oit the valve ,l to the atmosphere and` the movement oi the valve Yfrom lett to right; This momentary increase in absolute pressure or dropv in vacuum in the chamber 74 permits aslight retractive movement ot the pneumatic E, which movement in practice is 'liar enough te permit the valve J to again close. This closing, ot course, immediately decrei ses the absolute Apressure or increases the vacuum in the chamber 74, but betore this vacuum has time toY againl permit collapse oil'y the pneumatic lil, saidpneumatic has a YFurther slight retraetive movement sullicient to disengage the spool-head fl-9 ltrom the stop-arm 59; By this time the pneumatic E is againr attempting to close, but, due to. the etli'ect oi the locking-cam S9 upon the shai't 152, further closing operation-oi this pneumatic is prevented and the continued tendency to close simply causes it to press against the endr of the shatt 152 and eileet an increased holding oit the locking-cam lt will be noted that in the adjusting operation ot the music-spools they were lirst shifted laterally toward the lett and then slightly retracted to disengage the spoolhead 4.9 and the stop-arm 59. ln order Yto cause alinement o t the spool and trackerbar after the final retraotive movement oiz the spools, the mechanism is so adjusted that upon the initial lateral shil't oi the spools the music-sheet is moved toward the leit so that the periorations are slightly heyondthe tracker-bar ports. lllhen the spools retract', the perfor-ations and the ports are in proper alinement.

The mechanism remains in this adjusted position as long as the player is being operated; that is, as long: as the pedals are-loeing operated and a vacuum in the main chamber oit the player maintained, the pneumatic lll is kept closed. Therefore, the spools remain in their adjusted position during the playing operation.

At the time the pneumatic E was last closed to eifect the iinal. holding operation7 it will be recalled that the valve J had been closed. las already stated, this permitted a balance oiz pressure in the chambers Yi-Sil, due to the connection extending through the duct rllieretore, the valve 35 will again seat upon the plate SG. T his disconnects the stop-pneumatic l" from the vacuum chamber 7l, but this pneumatic does not retract, because at this time the pneumatic lil is pressing against the end ot the shait 1.52 and maintaining the locking-cam S9 e'l'fective. ln this way the pneumatic E only is he il operated during playing, and the stop-pneumatie F is d'iscounecteifl. Thus a saving olf power is eil'ected, because it both pneu'- matics were connected during lthe playing operation more power would be necessary to imiintain the proper vacuum.

lVhen the operator stops playing, the vacuum in the main chamber et the piano of course drops and the pneumatic ll retracts, allowing the parts to restore to normal. The operator now shifts the gear-shift lever 36 in the usual manner and thereby connects the driving-shaft Q9 .thriiugh the chain with the spool. l5 to rewind the musicsheet.

I claim 1. An alinement device oi the character described comprising a music spool and tracker bar, spool. operated means ttor delinitely alining the music-spool and the tracker-bar and maintaining such definite alinement during playing, and means for automatically shitting the spool longitudinally for operating said alining means.

Q. A music-roll alinement device of the character described comprising spool-shitting mechanism, and spool controlled means for operatingsaid mechanism to e'liect and maintain a predeterniinedy alinement ot the music-spool and tracker-bar.

3. A music-roll alincment device olf the character descriliied comprising spool-shittingl mechanism, and automatically operated controlling pneumatics tor operating saidv mechanism to shift the spool into a predetermined relation tothe tracker-bar and maintaining the spool in such relation during playing.

4L. A music-roll alinement device oi `the character described comprising a tracker-bar and music-spool, shiiting-mechanism 'for eifecting a predetermined alinement ot' the spool and the tracker-bar, a shitting-pneumatic for operating said mechanism to shift the spool and bar into said predetermined alinement, av stop-pneumatic for limitingv the shifting operation of the -shifting-mechanism, and automatic means tor controlling the pneumatics.

5. A music-roll alinement device of the character described comprising a tracker-bar and music spool, pneumatically operated mechanism for effecting a lateral `relative shift to the tracker-bar and spool, a stop operative upon a predetermined alinement of the tracker bar and spool when being shifted by said mechanism, and a stop-pneumatic controlled by said stop when so operated.

6. Music-roll operating-mechanism comprising a frame, a laterally-movable spoolshaft supported in said frame, means for limiting the lateral movement of the shaft in one direction, a music-spool, yielding` means including said spool tending to hold .v

the shaft in the limit of said direction, a swinging arm pressing against an end of the shaft, pneumatically-controlled means for operating said arm to move said shaft laterally against said yielding means, and spoolcontrolled means for controlling said pneumatically controlled means.

7. AA music-spool alinement device of the character described comprising a trackerbar, music and take-up spools, a shiftingpneumatic for shifting the spools laterally relatively to the tracker-bar, a movable stoparm engaged by an inner face of the spool head ttor limiting the lateral movement of the spools, and means controlled by the stoparm for effecting such limiting movement.

S. A music-spool alinement device ot the character described comprising a trackerbar, music and take-up spools, pneumatically-controlled mechanism for shifting the spools relatively to the tracker-bar, means for operating said mechanism upon initial creation of a vacuum in the main chamber ot the piano, a movable stop-arm adapted to be engaged by an inner .tace of a spool head when the spools are shitted,-and means controlled by the sto p-arm when so -engaejed to limit the lateral movement of the spoo s.

9. A music-spool alinement device of the character"described comprising a trackerbar, laterally-movable music and take-up spools, a movable 'stop-arm, a shitting-pneumatic connected to the main vacuum chamber and operated when the vacuum is initially created, mechanism responsive to said pneu-matic to first move the arm into the path of a spool head and thereaiterl move the spools laterally, whereby the inner face ot' a spool head engages and moves said stoparm, and a stop-pneumatic responsive to the stop-arm to limit the shitting operation of the shifting-pneumatic. p

10. A music-spool alinement device of the character described comprising a trackerbar, laterally-movable music and .take-up pneumatic for limiting the operation of the shifting-mechanism, and a spool-operated stop for controlling said pneumatics.

12. A music-spool alinement device of the character described comprising a trackerbar, a shifting-pneumatic for shifting the spools laterally relatively to the tracker-bar,

a spool actuated stop-arm, and means controlled by the stop-arm :tor limiting the operation oi the shifting-pneumatic.

13. A music-spool alinement device of the character described comprising a trackerbar, music and take-up spools, a shiftingpneumatic initially operative for shifting the spools laterally relatively to the trackerbar, a movable stop-arm engaged by an element movable with a spool upon a predetermined alinement of that spool and trackerbar and means controlled by the stop-arm for limiting the operation of the shiftingpneumatic.

14. A music-spool alinement device of the character described comprising a trackerbar, music and take-up spools, a shiftingpneumatic for shifting said kspools laterally relatively to the tracker-bar, a spool controlled stop-arm, and means controlled by the stop-arm for limiting the shi tting-movement of the spools.

15. A music-spool alinement device of the character described comprising a trackerbar, music and take-up spools, a shiftingscribed my name.

WILLIAM G. BETZ. 

